Pleasant Hill - Hill of Lights Celebration

This weekend is the 24th annual Hill of Lights celebration in Pleasant Hill. It starts Sat. morning, Dec. 4, with Breakfast with Santa at the Youth Center at Doanes Park. Now this is THE most authentic looking Mr. & Mrs. Santa that you will have the opportunity to have a picture taken with. Don't miss it. Bring your camera. 8:00-11:00 A.M.

Family Fun Night from 5:00 - 7:30. Free Bingo with lots of prizes, reasonably priced food and refeshments.

Sunday from 1:00-4:00, come back to the Youth Center at Doanes Park for Make and Take Christmas ornaments. Fun for the whole family.

Bus Tours - the city bus has a capacity for 24 people and can be reserved for groups of 10 persons or more. Call Rick at 208-8214. This is available any weekend in December.

There is also a Giving Tree set up in the lobby of the library. Anyone can bring slightly used winter clothing, canned goods, new or knitted hats, mittens and more under the tree. Donations will be accepted through Christmas and till the first of the year.

They're not Santa Claus, but they can help you with your housing wish list.

Bill 770-2455 or Bob 979-2883

Pleasant Hill Iowa video

Check out this video that was produced to promote Pleasant Hill community. It gives you a taste of the town just east of Des Moines. It's home to the acclaimed South East Polk School system. It is a short distance to commute to a job in the metro - with 2 entrances to the 65/69 bypass that loops you around to the south of Des Moines, or connects with I-80 or I-35 going north, east or west. There is shopping, recreation, health care, resturants - all minutes away. Pleasant Hill has one real estate office - Re/Max Real Estate Group - home of the Eisenlauer Team. Call with any questions pertaining to real estate.

Bill 770-2455 or Bob 979-2883

New Ice Cream Store in Pleasant Hill - Over the Top

How fun is it that Pleasant Hill is the home of a new ice cream/chocolate shop? Over The Top. The building is new - colors are pale yellow and purple. The owners keep the patio and inside area spic and span, the servers are courteous and helpful. All reasons why the parking lot seems to be packed every night when we drive by (and that's often since their location is 2 blocks from home).

For John's high school graduation party, we ordered the chocolate coins with his photo reproduced on top. Each one is wrapped in cellophane. They were a big hit.

Our neighbors hosted a child's birthday party there and said the kids loved it. Each one got to make a custom ice cream sundae.

The ice cream is all made on location, unique flavors - all Fabulicious! You must stop by and see for yourself - all the things offered and how irresistible it is. Right now there is a coupon for Father's Day gifts.

Two ice cream connoisseurs/Realtors on the Eisenlauer Team - so if you need advice about an ice cream flavor or real estate, please give them a call.

Bill Eisenlauer 770-2455 Bob Eisenlauer 979-2883

Top 12 Home Improvements

A survey done by HomeGain shows this list of the top 12 home improvements that will help your house sell quicker. It also gives the average cost of that repair and its return on investment.

1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost/$1,700 price increase)


2. Home Staging ($300 cost/$1,780 price increase)


3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost/$1,300 price increase)


4. Landscaping ($320 cost/$1,500 price increase)


5. Repair Plumbing ($385 cost/$1,250 price increase)


6. Update electrical ($400 cost/$1,225 price increase)


7. Replacing or shampooing carpets ($300 cost/$1,420 price increase)


8. Painting interior walls ($700 cost/$1,770 price increase)


9. Repair damaged floors ($650 cost/ $1,600 price increase)


10. Update kitchen ($1,200 cost/$2,850 price increase)


11. Paint outside of home ($900 cost/$1,815 price increase)


12. Update bathrooms ($830 cost/$1430 price increase)

If you have questions about which improvement you should make on your house to get it ready to sell, please pick up the phone and schedule a time with either Realtor on the Eisenlauer Team. Their experience will help give you direction on your to-do list. We also have a list of contractors that we have worked with that we'd be glad to refer to you.

BOB 979-2883 BILL 770-2455

Generation Y, Millennials, Echo-Boomers - Who are they?

Those born - roughly- between 1976 and 2000 are considered the Millennial, Generation Y or Echo Boomers. I have 2 children born 1979 and 1980 who seem to fit more into the Generation X group. Two more children, born 1991 and 1993 definitely fit into this Millennial group. They don't remember not having the internet, cell-phones or cable-tv. The "Generational Media Study" show there are 79 million in this group, compared to 48 million Gen-Xers. This is the largest generation of young people since the post-WW II Baby Boomers. They are already spending $170 billion a year (of theirs and their parents).

This group is high in un-employment, but since 1 out of 8 live with their parents - this doesn't seem to be a problem to them. Almost 40% of them have a tattoo, although 70% of those have them hidden under clothing.

Six traits of this demographic:

• Technology savvy - covered above.
• Optimistic, yet practical. They are prone to having specific goals, financially savvy, and don't like owing money. (However, they don't seem to mind living off parents) They shop for bargains or good deals at fair prices.
• Embrace Diversity. One third of this group identify as non-Caucasian.
• Belief in balance and fun. They like to be entertained, believe life should be enjoyable. They want responsibility but thrive on flexible work hours and creativity.
• Environmentally and socially conscious. They have grown up with the pervasive media environment touting 'green' and 'global' issues.
• Entrepreneurial. More than half of graduating Millennials believe they will own their own business in the future. Three out of four are from families with working moms, one in four has been raised in single-parent households.

All of these observations will make it interesting to see how our marketing will change to reach this youngest economic group. If these young graduates believe they will own their own business eventually, will that belief allow them to fit into their employers structure? Or will it make them rebel against the conformity expected of them. The fact that they are creative and fun-loving is bound to mean some exciting things to come in technology and entertainment. Whatever happens, be assured the Eisenlauer Team will still be ready to meet their real estate needs.

Bill at 770-2455 or Bob at 979-2883

Your Neighbors Trust the Eisenlauer Team

My post title is an example of Comparability as described by Tim Ash. His article in Website magazine also quotes Dr. Robert Cialdini for ways to create influence and trust in today's marketplace. Do you agree with his 6 universal principals?

• Reciprocation - we tend to return favors - so give in order to get.
• Scarcity- If its unavailable - I want it. Even perceived scarcity generates demand.
• Authority - If an expert says it - it must be true.
• Consistency - If people take even a small stand, they're likely to honor that commitment.
• Consensus - People look for 'social proof' of what others are doing.
• Liking - People are likely to buy from people they like.

Put us to the test, The Eisenlauer Team wants to be your local real estate experts. We're giving, we are unique, we can speak with authority because of our longevity in the Des Moines market. People like us and we're nice and dog-gone-it, nice is important. You'll like us. Ask your neighbor.

Bill Eisenlauer 770-2455 or Bob Eisenlauer 979-2883

Grooviest Realtors Around!

Monday night was the Annual Pleasant Hill Chamber Dinner. The theme was the groovy 70's. Bill and Bob were eager to dig out their old polyester and show off their style! What do you think? Who thinks with a big red nose and rainbow hair, Bill could be a clown?? One thing we know for sure - The Eisenlauer Team loves to have fun. They want your real estate experience to be fun and exciting. They are Easy to Work with...Hard to Beat! Call to comment on their outfits, with questions about real estate, or just to say Peace! Bob at 979-2883 Bill at 770-2455.

Many Musings

Does anyone else get tired of hearing gloomy national news? If we believed it all, we'd all curl up in a fetal postition! Real Estate is Local! There are great deals in real estate, the mortgage rates are still low...and most people CAN obtain a mortgage loan! The Register did an article this week about the local market being close to where is was one year ago. So call your LOCAL experts (Bill 770-2455 Bob 979-2883) and don't hunker down and hide. Life is good here in Des Moines!

Early OctoberFest. Beat the rush, celebrate Octoberfest in September! The Des Moines German celebration is this weekend.

Sport Season Lap The sport seasons seem to have more of an overlap. Highschool football and volleyball are coming to the end of their season. World Series is starting. And winter is knocking at the door of the MidWest.